Track Record Holder Returns Monday Night At Pompano
When the top weekly pacing event for Open Mares turns to the starting gate in the 6th race on Monday evening, May 7 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, the focus of much of the attention will be Bombilla Hanover.
She'll be making the first start of her 4 year old campaign. Last year on the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes trail when racing from the care of Bill Fahy and later in Florida from the barn of co-owner Peter Blood, Bombilla Hanover amassed almost $64,000 in season's earnings. Her greatest accomplishment was a stunning 1:51.4 tour of the Pompano oval last November nearing the end of her three year old campaign which bested the previous category track record of 1:52.1 established by Special Sweetheart two years earlier. Lew Whitaker of Schnecksville, PA co-owns the daughter of The Panderosa from the Matt's Scooter mare Bet Me Hanover. Bruce Ranger has been hired for driving duty on Monday evening for Bombilla Hanover to square off against the cast of South Florida's sturdy veterans including Nillabomb, Major Trap, She's A Pegase, Looney Dune and Angela.
Avantage Takes AdvantageIn Saturday Night Feature
Saturday evening's feature event at Pompano was the $8,500 Isle Mile Open Pace which saw Avantage used hard to make the lead after a 26.3 quarter and survive third quarter and stretch duels to stop the clock in 1:53.1. It was the second start from the care of Mickey McNichol, who also handles the driving duties on the 6 year old Electric Stena-Eclatante gelding for Elizabeth Zimmerman of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It was the 20th lifetime win for Avantage, as he held off the pocket-sitting Waldy Jimmy in rein to Dan Clements and the hard closing Red Star Paylater with Walter Ross Jr. in the bike. Avantage is now a lifetime winner of $136,780.
Other outstanding performers under a remarkable full moon and eighty degree evening in South Florida included three year old Florida stakes eligible colt Keemosabe with Bruce Ranger in tow to score under wraps in 1:55.2 over NW2 company. The night's fastest mile was a life's mark performance of 1:51.2 by Prairie Jaguar. Tom Sells was in the bike to guide the rapidly improving 4 year old gelding by Spy Hard-Cat Lady to a wide open victory in the $7,500 purse Isle Mile-2 Open Pace for trainer Mike Deters owner Laurie Lee Poulin of Okeechobee, FL.
The current schedule of live racing every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday continues through May with post time at 7:05 p.m. Eastern. The 2011-2012 meet at Pompano concludes with live racing every Wednesday and Saturday in June and July. Free race night live streaming, the racing schedule, handicapping selections by Hall Of Famer John Berry and much more is available at www.theislepompanopark.com .
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